Catching Lightning Without the Bottle

by Timothy F. Bouvine

Washed up star catcher for the Chicago Cubs Blake Benson dodges death and gains a chance to redeem both himself and the team. Blake Benson was a star catcher in his prime. Now he's addicted to alcohol and finds himself in the unenviable position of third stringer with the Chicago Cubs team as it enjoys a 10-game lead heading into the home stretch of the season. Drunk and late once too many times, Benson is kicked off the team in Hotlanta, Georgia and sent packing to rehab...or so he thinks. The team plane crashes outside St. Louis and everyone perishes. Benson is the only remaining team member on the roster. He is given a chance to rebuild the team as player/manager and reconstruct an alcohol-free life. Benson struggles with the temptation of the bottle and the management of an unruly bunch of rejects, has-beens like himself, and some awesome rookie talent as he tries to win the division against the streaking, hot, and well-managed St. Louis Cardinals. It's a race to the end of the season where awesome self-discoveries await.

432 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2014

Reviews

[Mike Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super baseball book and a super human-struggle book. Booze, broads, and baseball, Blake Benson fails on all three counts until his entire team is killed in a plane crash. As the only survivor he faces the challenges of sobriety, honesty, and courage on his way to the division championship.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A battle about the struggle to be a old school pro baseball player with a hardcore addiction. Powerful book and powerful story about getting over a addiction with something life changing. Makes you look twice at issues that are going on in your life that you need to overcome. Shows that not everyone is perfect and has something to work on. Blake has trouble all through it till the friends and people he calls family are taken from him. Then his battle with the truth and staying sober is a top challenge. I would recommend this to anyone that is having a problem with drinking.

[Rosa Cline]

I gave this book a 3 star rating; since I hadn't finished it but yet liked it. A 'middle rating'. Although I didn't completely finish this book I got half way through it. I did enjoy reading it but I don't know anything about baseball and when the storyline started talking ball language it kind of 'lost me' although I did find it interesting (as I do like the game of baseball just don't know that much about it.) Right now in my life my mind is full so I can't concentrate on this story as much as I should to get the full effect of the story. So I'm gonna shelf it for now and maybe one day get back to it.

It is a very good storyline about a ballplayer that is an alcoholic and 'forgets' he's married when he's out on the circuit... but when his whole team dies in an airplane accident one he should have been on if it hadn't been for him being drunk and his best friend pulling him and telling him he has to go home. So he has to live with the fact that he survived when others didn't. AND he realizes he wants to better his life with his wife by his side. BUT he wants to do it on his terms not be in rehab. His professional life takes a turn to the good when he has people believing in him. The writer does know what he's talking about and puts in baseball language and at times you feel you are right in watching the ballgame instead of just reading about it. So I would recommend this to people who enjoy ball or enjoy reading about people having second chances

[Sharon Heaverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a remarkable testament of how we as humans can accomplish anything with will power. The story is about a baseball player who becomes a team manager through unhappy circumstances. He struggles with alcoholism, grief, and a down but not out team. The book is written so well that as a reader you are cheering the man and his team on. I found myself holding my breath with every circumstance where he was tested to go off the wagon.
I truly enjoyed the book; however, there is much baseball terminology throughout. For a reader without a strong understanding of the game it may be a difficult read.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhat skeptical at first, I had joined a couple of Chicago Cubs Groups on Facebook, and not long after I received a text from the books author, Timothy F. Bouvine. He described his book and if I would like to purchase an autographed copy. Not recognizing the author and knowing the internet is full of scams, I checked out the title on Amazon and saw that the book had received some pretty good reviews. So what the heck, supporting a new author and my own bucket list fantasy of writing a book, I said yes and purchased a copy. What a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed this book. It is deserving of the good reviews it is receiving. The central character, through all his trials, is a likable one that you root for throughout the book. The author had an intimate understanding of the struggles of overcoming alcohol abuse. He also has a great understanding of baseball. A great read for any baseball fan. Especially if you're a Cubs fan. What a season to read this! This was a small risk worth taking. Looking forward to Tim's next book.
Side note: very appreciative of the chapter length. When you're too busy to sit down for any length of time to read, having short chapters is a plus.

[Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A drunken ballplayer is suspended from a baseball team, then the team plane crashes and all souls are lost. The player wrangles a player/manager position for the quickly assembled team and aspires to hold the lead the original team created. Meanwhile he must stay sober and faithful. Swearing.